AP 301-2

Distribution of General Information – Community Bulletin

Background

As articulated in AP 301 – Access to Students, no materials (flyers, brochures, posters, etc.) will be accepted for distribution to students and families from businesses or for-profit enterprises.

However, the Abbotsford School District recognizes the importance of connecting students and families to relevant community events, programs, services, and opportunities available. Through the Communications Department, an online database has been developed to share accurate and timely information with students and families.

https://community.abbyschools.ca/

Procedures

In consultation with the Superintendent of Schools, the Communications Department receives, reviews, and approves general information for posting. Organizations are not permitted to contact or send printed information or marketing materials to schools directly. Schools are directed to discard unsolicited emails and reject marketing materials.

Content for the Community Bulletin website is collected monthly and reviewed in bulk the last week of every month. Approved organizations will be notified and invoiced an advertising fee. Once paid in full, their information will be added to the website and included in the monthly newsletter distributed to all families.

Advertising Fees

Approved organizations will be invoiced an advertising fee. Fees are inclusive of having content posted for the current school-year, regardless of when the information is provided.

  • Fee for Businesses/Organizations: $500
  • Fee for Non-Profits: $100

Payment can be made by credit card or cheque and must be received before information is added to the advertising schedule cycle. All cheques should be made payable to the Abbotsford School District and reference “Advertising – Community Events/Programs”.

Fees may be waived for charitable/non-profit organizations and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Advertising Schedule

The Community Bulletin website is updated with new listings monthly. Information is gathered and reviewed from local community organizations and typically relates to sports, arts, tutoring/education, events and other activities and resources of interest to children, youth and families in the city’s various regions.

The Community Bulletin website is promoted on all district social media accounts monthly, encouraging students and families to visit the website. Additionally, a bi-monthly bulletin is emailed home to all school district families six times throughout the school year.

  • Community Bulletin #1: September
  • Community Bulletin #2: November
  • Community Bulletin #3: January
  • Community Bulletin #4: March
  • Community Bulletin #5: May
  • Community Bulletin #6: June (includes summer offerings)

Content that is approved and posted on the Community Bulletin website will stay active until August 1st of every year. After this date, content will be removed in preparation for the following school year and to ensure the space remains timely and accurate for our audiences.

Distribution Guidelines

Organizations who wish to promote their information, event, service, and/or opportunity to families within the Abbotsford School District must ensure content meets the following guidelines:

  • Opportunities that enrich and enhance student learning;
  • Opportunities that support student well-being;
  • Childcare information;
  • Family events and activities;
  • After-school/Out-of-school programming for children and youth;
  • Extracurricular and sports programming for children and youth; and
  • Winter, Spring, and/or Summer Camps;

All posts must be geared to children, youth, and/or families within Abbotsford. We do not promote products or items for sale.

Information that is targeted specifically for Abbotsford School District staff may be considered for internal distribution via department newsletters, pending approval. Information within this category must be geared towards: Field Trip opportunities that enrich and enhance student learning; In-Class/Virtual Presenters that enrich and enhance student learning (district approved organizations only); Staff Professional Development opportunities; etc.

Request To Distribute Information / Materials

No physical copies of information/materials will be accepted for distribution. All content must comply with Canada's Anti-Spam Law.

Requests for information distribution must be completed using our online form:

https://bit.ly/Request-to-Distribute

Marketing materials can be attached to this form and must be submitted in PDF format. All PDFs must include the below waiver in size 9 font:

Abbotsford School District may receive a fee to facilitate the distribution of advertising and marketing materials from some community organizations and businesses. Abbotsford School District does not accept responsibility or liability for the contents of any advertising and does not endorse an organization’s services, goods or programs.

If this waiver is not included on the original PDF submitted, the Communications Department will add it to approved content before posting to the Community Bulletin website.

By submitting information/materials you agree to the terms & conditions outlined above, in AP 301, and other related Administrative Procedures. Should you have further questions or concerns, please email info@abbyschools.ca. 

 

(Last Revised: November 2024)

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